Players:

Substitutes:

Todd Benson

Sam Ross

Christos Theodoropoulos

Scored goals:

Shaz Khaliq

Report

Partisan vs. Cholopice was billed as a grudge match for the expats, against the team that has been sitting at the top of the pile for the majority of the season and had yet to be beaten. Partisan had a 100% record at home going into the game and are starting to see 'table mountain' as somewhat of a fortress. Cholopice's side looked to consist of a couple of different players than the side that beat the expats earlier in the season on a very unfavourable sloping grass surface. Partisan were strong and almost all departments. The game began with Chol... up against some serious early pressure. Guri had a chance to put the home side 1 up within 5 minutes. He simply didn't realise how much time he had in the 6 yard box as he collected a long ball and snatched at the shot. Soon after, Partisan won a penalty kick which Taghavi had saved. It could so easily have been 2-0 to the blues after 20 minutes. Their continued probing finally resulted in the opening goal scored by Khaliq stealing in at the near post to meet a Guri cross. Guri had been running the right flank well, beating defenders with pace and strength. Sheppard and Taghavi seemed to be controlling the midfield, complimenting each other well. Partisan letting the visitors play in their own half, and not letting them have any options. Schuchardt was a casualty of the tight defending, pulling a muscle in his leg and having to retire from the fray. Fortunately, the large Greek stopper Christos Theodorpoulos was ready to step in at centre half. Half Time: Partisan 1 - 0 Cholupice B 1.0 at half time to Partisan and tails were up. The lead needed to be consolidated, which they had failed to do in recent weeks. Often conceding in the second half of games. Matthews subbed out for Ross on the right wing. Things were getting more fractious second half as Cholopice became visibly unsettled, 2 visiting players already having been put in the book. . They altered their formation to good effect, pressing Partisan back. The equaliser came after a very dubious call for handball was given against Lillard in the blue's penalty area. This was perhaps the only contentious decision the excellent referee had mad thus far. the spot kick was dispatched. 1-1. 10 minutes later Guri, with another strong run, was fouled again in the box, another penalty! Ross, fresh on at half time said he was confident and scored to put Partisan ahead again. 2-1. An unfortunate and clumsy elbow to the face saw Sheppard leave the field with a bloody nose, he was replaced by Benson. Khaliq dropping into midfield. This seemed to unsettle Partisan and they found themselves under pressure once more, trying desperately to hang on. As is often the case in these situations, something had to give. And this time it was another clash in Partisan box this time. A player went down, Simunek was the 3rd Partisan to leave the field to seek treatment and yet another penalty was awarded. It would have been too good to be true, to see Cholopice miss, as only minutes remained. Sure enough, the capable Lillard (replacing Simunek in goal) conceded the 4th penalty of the game. 2-2 Partisan could feel hard done by. They had worked hard, played well as a unit and were unfortunate to not get the 3 points. Surely a small message had been sent out to other teams that the foreigners are a team to be reckoned with in the Prague league.